Pesto Presto

 

Pesto is one of the best flavors associated with summer and the warmer months. And with this sudden 'heat wave' (Okay, so 64 degrees may not sound very warm to most of you, but after having days in the negative double digits, 64 is damn near beach weather!) I decided to make some! 

Alright, I knew pine nuts were expensive, but $23/lb?! That's outrageous! So I opted for the almonds that were on sale for $2/lb. You can use a multitude of nuts here, depending on what you want; walnuts, pistachios, almonds, soy nuts, etc. Enjoy!

Pesto

1 container fresh basil (about 1 cup loosely packed)

1 tsp parmesan 

1/4 cup nuts

3 large cloves garlic

pinch of black pepper and oregano

4-6 tbs olive oil (depending on how thin/thick you want it)

Place all ingredients in a blender of food processor and blend! Scrape the sides of your processor to ensure everything blends well. Add more oil if needed.

Serve with pasta, on a sandwich (we will be doing so tonight!) or anything you want!

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

You know the smell all to well. The sweet, intoxicating smell...of cookies. We're not talking about just any cookie here, we are talking about classic, good 'ole chocolate chip cookies. The kind that grandma makes you after a rough day and you just can't resist dipping them into an ice cold glass of milk. Chewy on the inside, crispy 'round the edges and so comforting.

I decided to whip up a batch today because: a) it's snowing outside b) the pipes have thawed out and c) I miss my grandma. This is her recipe, so use it well!


Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tbs vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups chocolate chips

In a stand mixer, beat the butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and beat until a stiff dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips, cover and chill for 2-3 hours.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and drop tablespoons of the dough on a cookie sheet, 3 x 4 cookies. (For thinner cookies, press flat with the back of the spoon) Bake for 15 minutes.